I am really getting into adding prebiotic foods to my diet to help support my microbiome and all the behind-the-scenes work it does for me in my digestive system. I like to focus on this right at the start of my day, so I can think that all the good bacteria in there making sure I get all my nutrition and that are a part of my immune system and even mental health will be having a good breakfast too. That way, we’ll all be ready for the day.
You Can Eat Prebiotic Foods at Any Time of Day
I tend to like focusing my attention on prebiotic foods at breakfast time. It gets the day started off right, in my opinion. But I’m not a nutrition expert, and I’m not you, so if you’d rather eat this kind of food at some other time, you do you!
The reason I like to focus on prebiotic foods at all is for the gut health support they provide. It’s good for overall wellness that starts right there in the intestines, where the gut microbiome mainly lives. The intestines are filled with billions of bacteria and other organisms. When they’re the goodies and they’re eating well, they help to make sure you get all the nutrients you need from your food. They also help your immune system in a number of ways. On the most basic level, when the good guys are populous enough, they crowd out the bad guys, so they don’t stick around. I read in the Journal of Translational Immunology that as much as 70 percent of the whole immune system is centered in the gut. Nothing to shrug off. Well worth a good breakfast!
Feeding the Gut Microbiome
Beyond the immune system and digestion, the microbiome in the gut is also associated with everything from blood sugar regulation to body weight control and even mental wellness and mood. This is outlined in papers published in journals such as Brain, Behavior and Immunity, the Postgrad Medical Journal, and Cell.
What are Prebiotic Foods, and Which Ones Do I Like?
Prebiotic foods aren’t the same as probiotics. Probiotics are live bacteria found in certain foods like some yogurts. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are typically plant-based. They are often foods that our bodies can’t digest but that the bacteria in our microbiome absolutely love to eat. When they consume those substances, they not only thrive and keep unwanted bacteria at bay, but they also produce nutrients we can use, such as short-chain fatty acids that are excellent for our own nutrition.
Among my favorite breakfast prebiotic foods for starting the day right include:
- Oats
- Only-just-ripe banana (even a hint of green can still be left)
- Blueberries
- Tart cherries
All these are not only great prebiotic foods, but if you take a close look, you’ll see that they’re also great with each other and make the perfect breakfast! Top with a little probiotic yogurt and I’m on my way!
